Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 549: Border Army (Part 1)

"Commandery Princess, is the message from the court or the border army?" Chen Jinyu asked in a low voice.

Jiang Shaohua replied, "It’s a letter from General Yu. The Rouran Cavalry has surrounded Si State; the border army remains in the city without engagement. Once outside the city, clashes with the Rouran Cavalry result in defeat, with heavy casualties. Morale is currently very low."

The Rouran Cavalry, fierce and powerful, is not a match for the border army in direct confrontation; holding the city is a strategy. However, the Rouran are cunning and brutal, employing a tactic of dividing forces. Half have surrounded Si State, while the other cavalry roams, pillaging and burning.

Already, five county towns have been flattened by the Rouran Cavalry. Countless civilians killed or injured, and the number of young men and women taken is staggering.

Having tasted success, the Rouran have expanded the battlefield, heading towards Youzhou. There is a garrison of six thousand in Youzhou, yet the commanding officer doesn’t dare to venture out, hiding within the camp with no intention of sending troops.

Chen Jinyu, not understanding warfare, instinctively looked at Song Yuan.

Song Yuan’s expression was solemn, and he said in a low voice, "If this continues, the Rouran will sustain their war by war itself, without worrying about provisions. They kill and plunder as they go."

Unless they kill and plunder enough, they won’t stop. These cruel Rouran cavalrymen, like hungry wolves, regard Da Liang’s people as cattle and sheep, awaiting slaughter, utterly detestable.

Jiang Shaohua remained silent, turning to the north as if she could see the bloody scenes of slaughtered civilians across a thousand miles.

Gripping the bamboo tube slightly, it turned to powder, scattering through her fingers.

If possible, she wished she could personally lead troops to slay the Rouran Cavalry!

In reality, as the Nanyang County Princess, leading the Nanyang Army to support was her limit. Going to the Capital City, she could say it was to care for the Emperor and accompany the Grand Empress Dowager. A Vassal King has no right to lead troops into battle. Once troops are moved, it’s rebellion!

Her mood, which had lightened significantly, sank into darkness again with this letter.

"Commandery Princess, I don’t understand warfare," County Magistrate Cai unexpectedly comforted, "But, the court spends vast amounts of money and resources on the border army. Now is the time for the border army to fight to the death for Da Liang and its people."

"The court has dispatched forty thousand relief troops. Once they arrive and unite with the border army, they will surely drive the Rouran back."

"The Commandery Princess has provided military supplies and sent the Nanyang Army to support, which is quite eye-catching. You’ve done everything possible. Next, nothing more should be done; wait patiently."

Jiang Shaohua responded softly, "Rest assured, I won’t impulsively head to Si State."

This joke was a bit cold.

She said she wouldn’t go, but at least the thought crossed her mind.

Chen Jinyu coughed and said, "It’s getting late, Commandery Princess. You’ve been out all day; you should rest now."

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly.

Back at the county government, Jiang Shaohua hastily had her evening meal and then went to her study, taking out a map. This map covered Si State, Youzhou, Bingzhou, Pingzhou, etc., marking the topography and official roads of each state, with many small circles drawn on it.

Each circle represented a county town.

Around Si State, five circles had already been marked.

Jiang Shaohua took out a charcoal pencil and marked a sixth circle in black. This was also the message relayed by Yu Chong in the letter; the Rouran Cavalry had claimed another county.

... 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Si State.

The city walls, over ten feet high, stood like a colossal dragon in the dark night, resembling a robust armor.

Beneath the walls were soldiers with weary faces. They had guarded the walls all day, repelling two attacks from the Rouran. They had killed over a hundred Rouran cavalry, yet their side suffered more casualties, at least double that of the Rouran.

The deceased soldiers were dragged from the walls, leaving winding trails of blood. In truth, the blood above and below the walls never fully dried. The heavy scent of blood filled the soldiers’ nostrils, and the injured, varying in severity, were carried away for treatment, as ten or more military doctors busied themselves tending to the wounded. Occasionally, there would be screams of pain or heartrending cries.

Over these many days, the soldiers had become numb to it all.

Suddenly, a different sound reached their ears.

"General Fan is here!"

"The Great General has come to see us. Everyone, prepare yourselves."

The soldiers reluctantly gathered their spirits, stood up straight, and tried to show their best side.

The Left General had led the border army for over a decade, and now, suddenly replaced by General Fan as the main general, many soldiers were dissatisfied and disobedient. General Fan had paid a full three-month salary promptly and ensured the soldiers were well-fed and clothed, only then barely stabilizing morale.

If this continued, in three to five years, the border army might fully return. Yet the Rouran Cavalry invaded en masse, and after an initial victory, the border army suffered successive defeats. With mounting casualties, morale sank further, and rumors spread in the dark, suggesting General Fan deliberately sent the Left General’s confidants out to confront, wanting to eliminate them with Rouran’s help.

This rumor, with unknown origin, swept through the border army in just a few days, as if pouring cold water on them, morale sank even lower.

General Fan deeply despised those who spread rumors and demoralized the troops, ordered a strict investigation of the rumor’s origin, and then personally inspected the city walls to reassure the army.

General Fan, in his fifties, was tall, robust, with a face full of short stubble, and though his eyes weren’t large, they were especially spirited.

Having led troops for many years and winning many battles, he was an accomplished and renowned general. At this moment, his steps were agile, with a composed manner, warmly comforting the soldiers, his presence inspiring respect.

Arriving at the wounded soldiers, he looked at those with severed limbs or injuries to the torso, eyes reddening, loudly proclaiming, "You are the warriors of Da Liang, fighting bravely for Da Liang. Now injured, rest well and recover. Once healed, this General will seek merits for you! Seek rewards from the court for you!"

These actions and words eventually boosted morale. The soldiers shouted in unison, "Thank you, Great General!"

Yu Chong, always by General Fan’s side, watched this scene, involuntarily feeling admiration.

The court’s change of command, having General Fan oversee the border army, wasn’t necessarily wrong. Unfortunately, the Rouran seized the chance to invade, and General Fan, not yet in full command, suffered consecutive defeats, truly not blaming General Fan.

Following General Fan were more than a dozen military generals, the main strength within the border army. Among these, over seventy to eighty percent were confidants supported by the Left General. General Fan had been with the border army for less than half a year and had only replaced two of them. The rest he hadn’t yet managed to divide and draw in one by one, and then the Rouran attacked.

General Fan took a tour of the city walls, until late at night, returning to his military tent.

The generals withdrew one by one, leaving only two confidants with General Fan, alongside Yu Chong.